This is your blog. You can comment on your thoughts about your Lodge and Masonry in general. Just click on comments and add them to the blog.
Paul Derman, PM
Webmaster
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Welcome Brethren
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
1953--I was stationed at Camp Gordon, GA initially as a morning report clerk in Co. 2 BTG, SigC, a basic training co. Later I became a military instructor in Teletype. As Corporal, I was allowed to live off base with my wife and so we did in Augusta, Ga. It was there, within "Magnolia Villa" at the corner of Walden Way (a room and boarding house that resembled a Souther Plantation) that we were introduced to two very elderly spinster Catholic sisters, Ms. Mary and Ms Nellie who operated the establishment. Breakfast and dinner were included and on Sunday, Southern Fried Chicken with all the trimmings and homemade ice-cream. I was not allowed to leave for reville until I had a full breakfast. Eventually I was reassigned to Ft. Hauchuca, AZ. and promoted to Sergeant. We packed our bags into our 1950 2-door Ford and said our goodbye to these two very dear individuals. I said, "Thank you Ms. Mary for being so good to us" She responded with what I carried with me the rest of my life and conveyed it to anyone who would listen. "It's not hard to be nice to nice people!" A truly profound statement and unknown to me at the time, very Masonic. When I eventually was released from active duty, my wife flew home in anticipation of our first born and I loaded up my car and started eastward, however I did take a detour to Augusta to see these two very special ladies for perhaps the last time. It was Sunday and I was in uniform. I parked my car and entered the pillared main entrace. Ms Mary was sitting by her self-appointed station, the telephone, where I last remembered her. Being about 85, she was nevr without her cane. She saw me, dropped her cane and ran as fast an old lady could towards me. As we hugged, she asked me, "Did you eat?" I said no and she escorted me into the dining room where she ordered the kitchen staff to delay cleanup to serve me. I felt like a king and we talked for hours. Ms. Mary asked, "Where are you staying tonight?" I said, "in a hotel somewhere". She said and this was the firt time she probably ever cursed, "Like hell, you are!" She fixed up a room for me for the night and I had a full breakfast the next day before leaving for home. My own parents could not have treated me or my wife any better. They have long since passed on, however they will always remain permenently and indeliblely attached to my "treasures of rememberences"-
About our honoree, William Donald Schaefer at our 210th Anniversary celebration on October 18, 2007
In 2006 when the “to be” 2007 Worshipful Master, Ronald J. Jacobson was planning his year, he informed me that he was considering honoring Brother Don on October 18, 2007. When I was given the task of inviting our honored guest to help us celebrate our 210th Anniversary of the founding of our Lodge, I felt flattered and honored. When he accepted, I was personally thrilled. When I was then asked to introduce him, my joy in having him with us was complete. The reason being that of my personal relationship with him, having served with him in the 457th General Hospital Reserve Unit under Colonel Conrad Acton, our Commanding Officer during my College days over 55 years ago. Our guest was a Major then and my Executive Officer. It was 1952 and I was to be drafted, however our guest in his own inimitable way, as a young aspiring attorney, wanted to keep me in the Hospital unit and pleaded my case to the Draft Board. We lost and I enlisted rather than lose my stripes that I had earned. Perhaps and I have no way of knowing for certain but that loss may have encouraged him toward public office rather than the practice of law?. His decision then turned out to be Maryland’s good fortune. The years passed. He went into public service and I watched with pride as he advanced to be elected and reelected to Mayor of Baltimore, Governor and Comptroller of the State of Maryland which is testament to his devotion to public service and to the best interests of the people of the State of Maryland. It did not go unnoticed or unappreciated.
He may be deemed very controversial to some because of his very “down to earth” humor and the way he expresses himself, however as a dedicated public servant, he is very special, has few peers of equal stature, if any and will always be a part of my “Treasures of Remembrance” and a man of many earned titles.
Post a Comment